Flexible interlocking shingle



May 16, 1939. 's. P. MILLER 2,158,140

FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING SHINGLE Filed July 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 15/3]. H F 5 19673 13!, 2] f g] INVENTOR Q a; a? ZIUAFfRM/fllf 32 6 36 I33 Z Y 4 ATTORNEY May 16, 1939- s, P. MILLER 2,158,140

FLEXIBLE INTE RLOCKING SHINGLE Filed July 21, 1936 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 iINVENTOR J/Z/arf F. Mil/er ATTORNEY V,

Patented May 16, 1939 2,158,140 FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING SHINGLE Stuart P.Miller, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to The Barrett Company, New York, N.

tion of 'New Jersey Y., a corpora- Applicatipn July 21, 1936, Serial No.91,717

10 Claim.

This invention relates to shingles and more particularly to flexiblecomposition shingles of the interlocking type.

One object of this invention isto provide a shingle which may be laid'ininterlocking relation with other similar shingles to prev'entrelativelinear movement of the shingles in all directions. Another object ofthis invention is to provide a shingle having a locking projection inone corner which may be interlocked with a slot in the opposite cornerof another like shingle by inserting the projection in the slot and thenrotating the shingles relative to each other to position them in desiredaligned relationship.

Another object of my invention is to provide a durable roof constructionof pleasing ornamental appearance constituted of overlapping courses ofshingles having their exposed portions locked together to resistbeing'blown up by the wind.

The shingle of my invention comprises a body portion provided with alocking member lying within the outline of the body portion and with alocking opening adapted to be entered by the locking member of a similaradjacent shingle. The locking member is preferably located adjacent acorner formed by the intersection of the forward or exposed edge of theshingle and a transverse edge of the shingle. This locking member may bedefined by an opening, e. g. a notch, extending inwardly from theforward edge of the shingle and another opening extending inwardly fromsaid transverse edge. The locking opening may be in thei'orm of a slotlocated adjacent another corner of the shingle and constituted of a,relatively narrow portion and a wider portion. The dimensions of thelocking member and slot are preferably such that when the looking memberis inserted into the opening and the shingles rotated relatively to eachother the shingles are locked together to prevent relative linearmovement in any direction.

For a more complete understanding of the in-- vention reference may behad to the accompanying drawings which are, illustrative of preferredembodiments of this invention and in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cutting layout illustrating a method ofcutting one form of shingle of this invention from a sheet of roofingmaterial;

produced by cutting a roofing sheet in the manner shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing two shingles of the typeillustrated in Fig. 2 locked together,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a shingle.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a roof formed bylaying the shingles of Figs. 1 to 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a method of locking theshingles of Figs. 1 to 3,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of shinglein accordance withthis invention,

Fig.7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing two shingles such asillustrated in Fig. 6 in interlocked relation, I 1

Figs. 8, 10 and 12 illustrate other modified shingles in accordance withthis invention, and Figs. 9, 11 and 13 are fragmentary enlarged planviews showing two shingles of the type disclosed in Figs. 8, 10 and 12,respectively, in interm locked relation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 2 illustrates ashingle of general rectangular form' constituted of a body portion lbounded by edges 2, 3, 4 and 5. Edge 2 may be considered, In forpurposes of description, the forward edge of the shingle, edge 4 therear edge, and edges 3 and 5 the transverse edges. Forward edge 2 of theshingle is provided with a notch 6 extending inwardly therefrom adjacenttransverse edge 3 and the latter edge is provided with a notch 8. Thelower edge 9 of notch 8 is positioned above the closed-end notch 6 for apurpose hereinafter to be described.

Notches 6 and 8 define a locking member Ill, 80 bounded by edges 2 and 3of the shingle and edges 9 and II of notches 8 and 6, and connectedtothe body of the shingle by neck portion l2. It will be observed that thelocking member ID is located within the rectangular outline of the 35body portion of the-shingle defined by edges 2,

The opposite transverseedge 5 of the shingle is provided with a lockingopening l3,extending inwardly therefrom and constituted of a rela- 40tively narrowouter portion [4 and a wider inner portion IS. The narrowouter portion M of the locking opening is bounded by parallel upper andlower edges and the wider portion I5 is bounded by a continuation of theupper edge of the narrow portion, downwardly inclined edge l6, edges l7and 20 perpendicular to forward edge 2 of the shingle, edge l8 parallelto forward edge 2, and upwardly inclined edge I9. Edge l1, it will benoted, forms a locking shoulder separating the wide and narrow portionsof the locking opening. The length of the wider portion I 5 of thelocking opening is substantially equal to the horizontal distancebetween the edge ll of,locking I member I0 and the inner closed end ofnotch 8.

In order to provide a reversible shingle the locking constructionadjacent hereinabove described may be duplicated adjacent rear edge 4 ofthe shingle. Thus locking member 22 and locking opening 24 are similarin shape to locking member H and the locking opening l3 respectively.

Cutouts 25, 26 may edge 5 of the shingle to provide notches forindicating the desired amount of overlap between successive courses ofshingles.

The shingles may be cut from a. roofing sheet in a manner which will beapparent from an innism employed. The roofing sheet from which theshingles are cut may be constituted of a felt 'base impregnated andcoated with bituminous waterproofing material, for example asphalt, andmay have a layer of granular surfacing material partially embedded inthe coating material.

.The shingle may be assembled in interlocked relation in the mannershown in Figs. 3vand 5 to form a roof as illustrated in Fig. 4. Inassembling the shingles the locking member ll) of shingle B is insertedthrough the locking opening l3 of shingle A and is moved to the positionillustrated in Fig. 5, in which the closed end of notch 8 of shingle Bisin engagement with the innermost edge 20' of locking opening l3 ofshingle A. Shingle B is then rotated in counterclockwise direction untilthe lower edges of the shingles are in alignment. In this position theedge 9 of the notch 8 of shingle B is in looking engagement with theupper edge of the locking opening l3 of shingle A and the closed innerend 'of notch 6 engages the lower edge l8 of the locking opening.v Theside ll of the locking member I of shingle B engages edge ll of thelocking opening l3 of shingle A. When the locking elements are thuspositioned they provide an efiective interlock between the shingleswhich resists relative linear movement of the shingles in alldirections.

The modified form of shingle disclosed -in Figs. 6 and 7- differs fromthat of Fig. 2 chiefly in that the edges 3| of locking openings 30 areinclined with respect to transverse edge instead of being perpendicularthereto. This construction provides projections 32 extending fromlooking members 33. The locking openings 35 differ from the lockingopenings of the shingle of Fig. 2 in I that the edges 36 of lockingopenings 35 are par- 'allel throughout their length to the edges31 instead of being constituted of a parallel portion and an inclined:portion as in Fig. 2.

The shingle of Fig. 6 may be interlocked with another similar shingle asillustrated in Fig. .7.

When thus assembled the projection 32 on locking member 33 of shingle Dextends upwardly beyond edge 31 of the locking opening 35 of shingle Cand adds to the strength of the interlock between the shingles. Theexposed straight edge 36 of shingle C provides a pleasing roof, designwhich difiers from. the design shown in Figs. 3

and 4.

forward edge 2 be provided in transverse '80 adjacent each of thevention are provided The shingle illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 isgenerally similar to that of Fig.2 and differs from the latter shinglechiefly in that the horizontal edge 42 of locking opening 46 intersectsthe vertical edge 44 of the relatively wide portion of the lockingopening instead of being connected thereto by an inclined connectingedge. This shingle may be laid in interlocking relation with anothersimilar shingle as illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be observed that theright angled corner formed by the intersection of edges 42 and 44 ofshingle E cooperates with the edge ll of locking member ID of shingle Fin such manner that the shingles must be rotated relatively to eachother through a relatively large angle in order to unlock them.

Hence, the shingles are not likely to become unlooked under conditionsof use.

The shingle shown in Fig. is provided-with the locking openings 46constituted of slots 48 extending perpendicularly from transverse edge 5and slots 52 leading into and extending at an angle from slots 48between the ends of the latter.

:The shingle is provided with locking slots 54 extending inwardly fromtransverse edge 3 in alignment with the slots 48. Looking openingsconstituted oi notches 56 terminating in'short slots 58 extend fromedges 2 and 4 of the shingle. The closed inner ends of slots 58 are inalignment with the closed inner ends of slots 52. The slots 54, notches56 and slots 58 define locking members corners formed by theintersection of transverse edge 3 with edges 2 and 4 of the shingle.

The shingle of Fig. 10 may another similar shingle as illustrated inFig. 11. When in interlocked relation, the closed end of be interlockedwith slots 54 and 58 of overlying shingle G engage the Fig. 10 chieflyin that the locking slots 62 are inclined instead of perpendicular withrespect to transverse edge 5 of the shingle. Locking slots 64 extendperpendicularly from slots 62 and are of such length that their closedends are in horizontal alignment with the closed inner ends of .slots58. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 13,

this shingle may be laid similarly to the shingles of Fig. 10, with-theclosed end of locking slot 62 in engagement with the closed end of slot54 of an adjacentshingle and with the closed end of slot 64 engaging theclosed end of slot 58 of the adjacent shingle. I

It will be noted that the shingles of this in; lth interlocking meanswhich enable the shingles to be locked together in such manner that theyresist' relative linear movement in all directions and may be separatedonly by relative rotationof the shingles with respect to each other. Theshingles when laid form a roof of pleasing ornamental appearanceconstituted of courses of shingles having their exposed portions securedtogethefso that they resist blowing up by the wind.

I claim;

.1..An interlocking *ihingle comprising a body portion having a lockingtongue defined by openings extending inwardly from two adjacent edgessaid body portion being provided with a locking opening having ashoulder and adapted to receive the locking tongue of a similar shinglewith the shoulder engaging portions of the tongue to prevent relativelinear movement of said shingles ing member.

3. An interlocking shingle of general rectangular formcomprising a bodyvportion having a forward edge and transverse edges, said shingle beingprovided in the neighborhood of one of said transverse edges with alocln'ng member connected to said body portion by a neck of less widththan the width of said locking member, said locking member lyingsubstantially within the rectangular outline of said shingle, said bodyportion being provided adjacent the opposite transverse edge with alocking opening extending inwardly from said transverse edge, saidlocking opening beingconstituted of a relatively narrow portion and awider portion.

4. An interlocking shingle comprising a body portion, a locking memberconstituted of a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrowportion, said relatively narrow portion connecting said relatively wideportion to the body portion "of said shingle, said shingle beingprovided with a locking opening constituted of a relatively narrowportion and a relatively wide portion, the length of the relatively wideportion of said locking opening being approximately equal to the widthof the relatively narrow portion of said locking member.

' 5. An interlocking shingle comprising a body portion of generalrectangular form having a forward edge, a rear edge and transverse edgesconnecting said forward and rear edges, said shingle being provided witha locking opening extending inwardly from .one of said transverse edgesand with another locking opening extending inwardly from said forwardedge in the neighborhood of said last named transverse edge, saidlocking openings forming a locking member connected to the body portionof said shingle by a neck portion, said shingle being provided with athird locking opening extending inwardly from the opposite transverseedge, said last named locking opening comprising arelatively narrowouter portion and a relatively wide inner portion, the length of saidinner portion being equal approximately to the width of said neck.

'6; An interlocking shingle comprising a body portion having aforwardedge and transverse 65- edges extending at an angle thereto, saidshingle being provided with a locking opening extending'inwardly fromsaid forward edge, a locking opening extending inwardly from one of saidtransverse edges and a third locking opening extending inwardly from theopposite transverse edge and constituted of a relatively narrow portionand a relatively wide portion, the inner ends of said locking openingsextending inwardly from said transverse edges being insubstantially'horizontal alignment and the in'ner end of said lookingopening extending from the forward edge of said shingle being insubstantial horizontal alignment with the lower edge of the wide portionof said locking opening extending from said opposite transverse edge.

7. A flexible interlocking shingle of general rectangular shape havingin one lower corner a looking tongue defined by notches extending intothe forward and side edges respectively of the element and having in theopposite corner an opening extending into the side edge, said openingbeing constituted of a relatively narrow portion and a wide portion thenarrow and wide portions being connected by a shoulder extending atright angles to the longitudinal direction of the said opening and saidopening being substantially parallel to the forward edge of the element.

"8. A flexible interlocking shingle of general rectangular shape havingin one lower corner a locking tongue defined by notches extending intothe forward and side edges respectively of the element and having in theopposite lower corner an opening extending into the side edge, saidopening being constituted of a relatively narrow portion and a wideportion the narrow and wide portions being connected by a shoulderextending at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the saidopening and said opening extending at an angle other than a right angleto the side of the element.

9. A flexible interlocking shingle comprising a body portion of generalrectangular shape having longitudinal edges and side edges, a lockingmember defined by a notch extendinginwardly from one of saidlongitudinal edges and a notch extending inwardly from one of said sideedges, said notchesbeing spaced from one corner of the portion intendedto be exposed to the weather and a locking slot extending into the sideedge opposite the said corner, said locking slot forming a shoulderintermediate the ends thereof, said slot being der, the projection ofsaid shingle being adapted to enter the recess of a like shingle whenthe vertical median" lines of the shingles are at an angle to eachother, and, after such engagement, to be locked with said recess of saidlike shingle when the said median lines are brought parallel to eachother, said projection and recess being constructed and arranged so thatwhen locked linear motion of the shingle with respect to the likeshingle is prevented in all directions.

STUART P. MILLER.

